“The Mountaintop”

by Katori Hall

The Mountaintop is a fictional retelling of how Martin Luther King Jr. spent his last night on earth, before his tragic assassination. After delivering his famous “I’ve been to the mountaintop speech” on behalf of the sanitation workers in Memphis, Martin goes to the Lorraine Motel to rest before another long day of campaigning. His world is spun on his axis when he meets Camae, a beautiful maid, who delivers his room service. At first, they only exchange flirtatious remarks, but soon they start a deep dialogue about Martin’s hopes and fears, and the two develop a true understanding. When Camae reveals that she is an angel that has come to prepare him for the soon-to-be-coming afterlife, Martin must confront his fears and face his own mortality. The Mountaintop shows the audience a different side of Martin Luther King: a man who is tired, flawed, yet — despite everything — is an inspiration.

Director

Brandon Hearne

Brandon W.L. Hearne is very excited to be directing his first production at Valparaiso University. Brandon is a Gary native and recent Indiana University graduate where he obtained a MLS with a focus in Theatre and History. Brandon served on the Board of Directors for the Gary Shakespeare Company from 2014-2019.Currently he serves on the Artistic Ensemble for the Gary Shakespeare Company.  Previous credits include: A Soldiers’ Play (Henson) West Side Theatre Guild, Genesis ( Red) Theatre Northwest, A Dolls House ( Krogstad ) Theatre Northwest , Much Ado About Nothing( Don Pedro)Gary Shakespeare Company, You Better Watch Out (Andy) Hammond Community Theatre, Frankenstein(Peter Schmidt) Chicago Street Theatre, Othello (Othello) Gary Shakespeare Company. Brandon, would like to thank his friends and family for all their support.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Vincson Green

Vincson Tyrone Green II is a content creator residing in Long Beach, CA. He graduated from Abilene Christian University with his undergrad degree in Acting for Theatre in 2012. His theater credits include, but not limited to, Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello, Captain King in John Patrick Shanley’s Defiance, Phil, Lendall and East in John Cariani’s Almost, Maine and Martin Luther King Jr. in Katori Hall’s On the Mountaintop. In 2017, he graduated from New York Film Academy with his M.F.A. degree in Acting for Film. His film credits include, but not limited to, Kommando 1944, numerous short films, and We’re Alive: Goldrush, an audio drama mini-series presented anywhere you get your podcasts. His film directorial debut was Theo Blue’s “The Same” music video.

Camae

Alisha Taylor

Alisha Taylor is an alumni of Abilene Christian University where she received her BFA in musical theatre. She has performed in The Mountaintop (Camae), The Dream of the Burning Boy (Chelsea), Nickel and Dimed (Carlie/Melissa), Mary Poppins (Ensemble/Feat. Dancer), as well as Big Fish (Little Lamb/Ensemble). She completed a short film at the Nate Parker Film Institute which had a private screening at the 2018 Pan African Film Festival. She recently finished a performance of The Mountaintop in New York with Brian Dickerson Productions. She loves expanding her audiences appreciation for black narratives on stage and screen. She would like to thank her ancestors, family, and friends for their guidance, love, and support. She would like to thank God for the blessings that continue to flow, and the beauty created through storytelling.